“Homeland Security”
Exodus 15:1-18
In the aftermath of 9-11 a Federal position was created to help insure the safety and security of Americans and others living in the United States. So we now have a Director of Homeland Security. It is an attempt to help alleviate ongoing fears of attack and terrorist tactics. This action certainly points out that we have a deep-seated need for security. Without security we can never be free from our slavery to fear. When the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco was being built, there was a great fear of workers falling. Bridge builders have a superstition that one man will die for every million dollars spent on the project. This bridge was budgeted for $35 million, so the fear was pervasive. The chief engineer, Joseph Strauss, also believed that three-dozen men could fall to their deaths. The impact of falling from the bridge to the water below is equivalent to hitting a brick wall at eighty miles per hour. Strauss made an unprecedented move and ordered a large trapeze net to be placed under the workers. Bridge builders had never enjoyed such a luxury, so the added security made them feel, as one worker said, like they could, "dance on the steel."
God’s people also can be immobilized from effective living because of fear. As Israel stood immobilized by the Red Sea before them, with Pharaoh’s army rapidly pressing from behind, they, too, knew fear. They, too, needed security. And then the miracle – the waters parted, formed a protective wall, and God’s people walked through the sea but on dry land. And then came the victory – Pharaoh’s army charged across the dry sea land only to be drowned and swept away as the protective waters surged upon them. Chapter 15, which we have just read, is the dancing, the song of celebration, the reflection of a secure people. From this we see how we can dance in our security in the midst of this, our homeland. Its bookends are verse 2 & 18: “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him…The Lord will reign for ever and ever."
We can dance, first of all, because GOD IS OUR STRENGTH (3-10). Israel knew she had not crossed the Sea in her own power or by her own accord. God had fought the battle; God had won the day; God had defeated the enemy. That’s why the celebration song calls God the mighty warrior: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.” GOD IS THE MIGHTY WARRIOR WHO GUARANTEES THE VICTORY. Literally it says He is a ‘man of war.’ It’s unfortunate that many today do not like to think of God in terms of war. To them God is only a God of love, a God who would never lift a finger to harm or destroy anyone. No singing of God’s judgment, no “Onward Christian Soldiers,” no talk of punishment. But I say, “Praise God, the Mighty Warrior!” For as long as sin and evil exist, someone needs to go to war! And I’d rather it be God than me! I do not have the strength; but God does. And that gives me my security. Consider Pharaoh – he had ordered a massive drowning of all the Israelite baby boys. Well, he got his drowning – and as a bonus his fighting boys were drowned. That’s God – that’s God’s justice. It’s called the “Lex Talionis” – God punishing through the law of retaliation. What people sow, they reap. Pharaoh sowed destruction through drowning, so his army was defeated through drowning. To preserve His people, God had to step in and fight. In fact, 285 times in the Old Testament God is called “JEHOVAH SABAOTH” which means “the Lord of hosts,” or “the Lord of armies.” The prophet Isaiah spelled it out clearly (42:13): “The Lord will march forth like a mighty man; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his thundering battle cry, and he will crush all his enemies.”
God still fights for us; still today He is our strength. God still has to step in and fight because, as Paul wrote, our battle is (Eph 6:11 ff.) “…against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.” This means we cannot fight the battle by ourselves: since THE ENEMY IS NOT A CONVENTIONAL ENEMY OUR WAR CANNOT BE FOUGHT WITH CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS. The celebration song refers to God’s right hand (9) and the breath of His nostrils (8 & 10). Through divine intervention – the power of His hand – and control of nature – the wind, His breath – God alone can guarantee the victory over the battles of our lives. As one of our familiar celebration songs puts it, “What A Mighty God We Serve!”
We earlier recited the Apostles’ Creed, affirming Christ’s ascent into heaven. OUR SECURITY LIES WITH THE HEAVENLY JESUS. Jesus the Eternal Ruler ascended to the throne of judgment and, as the Heidelberg Catechism states (Q&A 52): “All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment: but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven.” No matter what your Red Sea this morning, no matter what lies before you, no matter how deep the surging waters surrounding you, know that Jesus will fight and win your battle.
Say with me, “God is my strength. God will not let me drown. God will win my battle.” F. B. Meyer put it poignantly: “Fear not. Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord sits as king upon the flood: yes, the Lord sits as king forever. A storm is only as the outskirts of his robe, the symptom of his advent, the environment of his presence. His way lies through, as well as in the sea, his path amid mighty waters, and his footsteps are veiled from human reason. Dare to trust Him; dare to follow Him! Step right down into the ooze of the sea, to find it rock; go down into the mighty depths, to discover that the very forces which barred your progress and threatened your life, at his bidding become the materials of which an avenue is made to liberty.” “The Lord is my strength … He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him…The Lord will reign for ever and ever."
We also dance because God is not only our strength but also GOD IS OUR SONG (11-12). Sandwiched between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea the Israelites sang the Desert Blues. But following God’s mighty acts of deliverance they sang the Desert Blessings: “"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them.” This celebration song simply summarizes the fact the GOD WORKS WONDERS. God works wonders. Imagine for a moment the scene as the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. Following the panic of stopping at the Sea with the enemy fast approaching, there was the hushed silence as Moses spoke, lifted his rod, and the waters parted. Then the cautious first steps into the seabed – then the quickened pace – then the walk-run to the other side. On the other side they turned around and saw the enemy still on the trail, in the middle of the seabed – and then gasped in horror as the waters caved in and carried the enemy away. It was a combination of sorrow and joy. And then they stood on a new continent as a new nation with a new beginning.
It foreshadows the new beginning experienced by all who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. Never forget what Paul wrote: “…those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” Through Jesus Christ we are all new creations – we have been given a new beginning. Reflect today on how God in Jesus Christ has delivered you. FROM WHAT HAS HE DELIVERED YOU? WHAT IS YOUR NEW BEGINNING? What have you left behind? What changes have you made in your life? God works wonders!
Yes, God works wonders – in order TO GARNER PRAISE AND GLORY. God works wonders so He can receive the glory. “"Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 10 times “the Lord” is mentioned in this celebration song. Never is Moses mentioned. The glory is all God’s! So in light of your new beginning, HAVE YOU GIVEN GOD THE GLORY? Israel gave God the glory through this celebration song. The Bible is filled with such celebration songs In addition to this one, Israel sang (Numbers 21:17) after God gave them water in the desert; (Dt. 21) Moses sang as the Hebrews were about to enter the Promised Land; (2 Sam. 22) David sang when God rescued him from Saul and other enemies; in Ezra 3:11 Israel sang at the completion of the temple’s foundation; (Lk. 1:46-55) Mary sang praise to God for the conception of Jesus; (Acts 16:25) Paul and Silas sang songs while in prison; and Revelation is filled with the songs of the saints! When deliverance occurs, sing praise. SINGING IS AS MUCH THE LANGUAGE OF HOLY JOY AS PRAYING IS THE LANGUAGE OF HOLY DESIRE. Deliverance leads to singing. Say with me, “God has worked wonders in my life. God has delivered me. God is my song.” As Paul wrote (Col 3:16): “Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” We are to be a community of song! WHAT SONG ARE YOU SINGING? What song are you sharing with others to bring glory to God? For there is none like Him – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders! “The Lord is my strength and my song…He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him…The Lord will reign for ever and ever."
So we dance because God is our strength, our song, and GOD IS OUR SALVATION (13-18): “"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling…You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance- the place, O Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.” It is God who saves us. HE FREES US FROM THE POWER AND PENALTY OF SIN AND DELIVERS US TO HIMSELF. He delivers and saves us in order to bring us to the place of His presence, to the place where He is. Again, our future is secure because our security is in Jesus who has ascended to the throne. Q&A 49 of the Heidelberg Catechism: because Jesus is in heaven, “We have our own flesh in heaven – a guarantee that Christ our head will take us, his members, to himself in heaven.” Heaven is on the horizon for you because YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN! They have been buried, along with the Egyptian army, in the depths of the sea! Say with me, “My sins are forgiven. Heaven – here I come!” Your future is secure!
But deliverance to God also means we are in the process of deliverance even now – WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING LIKE JESUS. Romans 8:29: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to be like his Son (confirmed to his image), so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters…” Colossians 3:10: “…you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” 2 Cor. 3:18: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another…” Or as the New Living Translation states it: “And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.”
So ARE YOU STRIVING TO BE CHRIST-LIKE? Does your life at all resemble Jesus’? Is the tone of your life such that people are attracted to Jesus Christ? Is your passion to attract them to Him? Is the goal of your life to pursue the things of Christ? 1 Pt. 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Say with me, “God has been merciful to me! Even now He is transforming me. I will be like Jesus. I will reflect His glory more and more.”
The gifted poet Annie Johnson Flint has painted this poignantly in her poem, “At The Place Of The Sea”.
Have you come to the Red Sea place in your life,
Where, in spite of all you can do,
There is no way out, there is no way back,
There is no other way – but through?
Then wait on the Lord with a trust serene
Till the night of your fear is gone;
He will send the wind, He will heap the floods,
When he says to your soul, “Go on.”
And His hand will lead you through – clear through –
Ere the watery walls roll down,
No foe can reach you, no wave can touch,
No mightiest sea can drown;
The tossing billows may rear their crests,
Their foam at your feet may break,
But over their bed you shall walk dry shod
In the path that your Lord will make.
In the morning watch, ‘neath the lifted cloud,
You shall see but the Lord alone,
When He leads you on from the place of the sea
To land that you have not known;
And you fears shall pass as your foes have passed,
You shall no more be afraid;
You shall sing His praise in a better place,
A place that His hand has made.
Say with me: “THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG; HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION. HE IS MY GOD, AND I WILL PRAISE HIM, MY FATHER'S GOD, AND I WILL EXALT HIM…THE LORD WILL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER."
